Classic American West Coast Boxing

[scartissue]

Tanling with the Quarry men I don't worry about, its the Quarry women that scare me!!

Frank

I remember reading somewhere about Jerrys ex, I think her name was Charlie. There was a little drama.
I think it was written by Gil Clancy.
Cant remember the details.
She didnt like her seat at one of Jerrys fights. Jerry was all upset something like that.
There was a fiasco of some sort.

Expug, I remember that story. Her name was Arlene Charles, a former model who they called Charlie. Apparently, when Gil Clancy took over Jerry (which I believe happened after Jerry's second loss to Ali, so he must have taken over the reins for the Randy Neumann fight) he felt Jerry had a very soft psyche and made sure all his cornermen knew to keep things tranquil before a fight. He even spoke to Charlie about keeping things blissful but she had her own narcissistic agenda. It may have been before the 2nd Frazier fight, everything was nice and peaceful in the dressing room with Gil going over final details when the dressing room door blasts open and Charlie screams out, "Did you see what kind of crap seats I have? You've got to do something, etc., etc." Jerry gets agitated, Gil ushers her out of the room, sends flunkies to deal with arrangements and they have to soothe the psyche once again. Man, she must've been something.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Is this the same one as the one on the first photo?

Looks like shes got a Q tip resting on her ear.
Was she workin the corner? [/quote]

No, back in those years here in L.A. you didn't see women working corner.

[kikibalt]

Art Aragon (L) vs Vince Martinez

[kikibalt]

Art Aragon and Joe Louis

[kikibalt]

Jerry Quarry and wife again.

[kikibalt]

When you guys get bore with my pics, let me know and I'll stop posting.

[Rick Farris]

The woman pictured with Jerry was his first wife, Kathy. Kathy is the mother of Jerry's children.

Back in 1965, when Jerry turned pro, he was married to Kathy and worked changing bus tires for a living. It was a pretty dangerous job, Jerry said. I guess banging it out with guys like Frazier, Lyle, Shavers, Ali, etc. was an easier way to make a buck?

-Rick Farris

[Robert in NYC]

Hi Rick,

Yes, it's me; great to see you posting here, brother.If you don't remember my #, you can get it from Mando.
By the way, I was in contact with Sixto Rodriguez a couple of years ago.
Regards,
Robert

[dagosd2000]

When you guys get bore with my pics, let me know and I'll stop posting.

The Dago says KEEP THOSE PICS COMIN'. Remember my family was big in the Outfit in Chicago(So why am I a schoolteacher?) That's an unrelated story. I'm gonna be 62 in April. You've probably got a few on me.

I remember Jerry Quarry's wife saying after he passed when asked by a reporter if boxing should be banned. I guess he had issues with fighters winding up with dementia. Her response, "As long as there are men,there will always be boxing"

[Rick Farris]

Frank . . .

Looking thru the pages you've been posting, I was happy to see the name Sammy Saunders. I aso came across a pic from Saunders during his fighting days.

As Frank knows, Saunders was an amateur promoter who put the cards together at the El Monte Legion Stadium in the late 60's. Sammy also managed a few fighters and was a long time L.A. boxing personality.

It wasn't until Frank posted his great collection of memorabelia that I was aware of Sammy Saunders, the boxer. When we met, Sammy was middle age, a little heavy around the middle, and always had a very calm demenor. He put on amateur cards around L.A. before settling in El Monte, where the Legion held amateur boxing right up to the time of it's destruction around 1971 or '72, I think.

I remember El Monte Legion was located just north of the 10 Fwy, and you could see it standing out as the largest building in the area. It's walls were pink cement, and they were about 4ft. thick. When the building was demolished, it was said that when the wrecking ball slammed into the Legions pink cement walls, it was stopped cold, just a few chips fell to the ground.

Prior to the Legion Sammy promoted at a place on Pico Bl. called "Victoria Hall".

Last time I saw Sammy was at an amateur boxing match in the early 90's. He still looked the same, except his black hair had turned white.

When Sammy Saunders was promoting amateur boxing at the El Monte Legion Stadium, the most popular L.A. stars were Armando Muniz (prior to Army), Pete Vital, Danny Alameda, Clay Hodges (who twice whipped Geo. Foreman.

Of course, there were many others, and a new crop that was being developed in the Jr. Golden Gloves. Names like Baltazar, Davila, Sandoval, Duarte, Price, Shields, and . . . hey Frank, help me out here- You ran the Jr. GG's at the time!

-Rick Farris

[dagosd2000]

Man I hate repeating myself,but Kiki and Rick might have missed this one on Jerry Quarry. I think it was 1968. Jerry and Deacon Jones of the Rams are on a TV sports show with Jim Healy. Deacon Jones just got voted in 2nd place for MVP of the league. Jerry was coming off his first loss to Joe Frazier.

Healy asks Jones why he's such a good football player. Well the Deacon was always full of himself,so he responds with this big shit eating grin and says"I have total confidence in my ability. I could be successfull in anything I want to do." Then what do you think this hard on does? He turns to Quarry who's sitting next him and says"Even boxing"

Well Quarry is sitting there(I love this expression)looking Irish and tough. Bingo! Jerry pops out of his seat and stands over Jones saying"Come on you S-- o- a b---- I'll kick your ass right now in front of everybody" He's hotter than a 2 dollar pistol. Well the Deacon slumps down in his chair like a limp dish rag. Healy is looking around,and there's Quarry pounding his fist into his hand. Next thing Healy says is"Let's go to a commercial"

When they came back the Deacon was gone.

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

Diego,
Yeah, I miss that one.

[kikibalt]

When you guys get bore with my pics, let me know and I'll stop posting.

You've probably got a few on me.

Like ten!

[kikibalt]

Andy "The Hawk" Price
Jan., 2007

[Rick Farris]

Dago . . .

Like Frank, I hadn't heard that story, but it was without question 110% Quarry. That was Jerry. You don't know hw many times Jerry tossed punches outside the ring. Here's one of the last times . . .

It's late in the 90's, and "Irish" Jerry Quarry was no longer mentally sound, his brain ravaged by Pugilistic Dimentia. Jerry was living with his mother, in a mobile home, and one day a writer visited the former heavyweight contender. The writer asked Jerry what it was that made his left hook to the body so brutal.

Jerry, asked the writer to stand up and square off with him. Excited, the writer jumps to his feet, pleased to get a first hand look at one of Jerry's favorite punches, expecting Quarry to just "go thru the motions". Well, I think you know what's coming next, unfortunatly, the writer didn't. Jerry demonstrates a feint, drops his shoulder and then fires the Goncho. Of course, the punch folded the writer in two.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

Rick,
Here is a pic. my son Tony (L) fighting at the EL Monte Legion, the referee is Louis J. , from the Teamsters gym, that me on the lower left in black.

[kikibalt]

Andy "The Kid" Heilman

[dagosd2000]

Dago . . .

Like Frank, I hadn't heard that story, but it was without question 110% Quarry. That was Jerry. You don't know hw many times Jerry tossed punches outside the ring. Here's one of the last times . . .

It's late in the 90's, and "Irish" Jerry Quarry was no longer mentally sound, his brain ravaged by Pugilistic Dimentia. Jerry was living with his mother, in a mobile home, and one day a writer visited the former heavyweight contender. The writer asked Jerry what it was that made his left hook to the body so brutal.

Jerry, asked the writer to stand up and square off with him. Excited, the writer jumps to his feet, pleased to get a first hand look at one of Jerry's favorite punches, expecting Quarry to just "go thru the motions". Well, I think you know what's coming next, unfortunatly, the writer didn't. Jerry demonstrates a feint, drops his shoulder and then fires the Goncho. Of course, the punch folded the writer in two.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

-Rick Farris

Hey Look,I've never met you guys,only on this Forum. That Chicago buddy of mine Expug got the ball rollin'. I've posted Kiki and now I'm asking you. You guys should collaborate on a book. With your stories and pictures,it would be the best book on boxing ever. I really mean that. I've done some writing myself so I'm not out in the cold on this. Just the stuff that's been posted in the last several days is not only educational ,but very entertaining. Who in the hell wants to read the Sugar and Hauser stories any more? Most of that stuff is back East. I know more about Ali,Frazier,and Foreman than my own wife. There was a tremendous interest in boxing in the Southland and Mexico with the lighter divisions deep with legedary fighters. Hall of Fame guys. You guys have the talent and knowledge to put it out there. Hey Kiki,who wouldn't want a book of boxing with that picture of your son in the ring and you looking at him with such intensity?

[kikibalt]

Diego
Really appreciate your thoughts, but I just don't have the energy for that kind of a job, Rick already knows what I'm going to tell you, and that is that I have cancer and my treatment just drain me of all my energy.
So again I appreciate your thoughts and I thank you for them.

Frank

[kikibalt]

Clarence Henry

[Expug]

Diego
Really appreciate your thoughts, but I just don't have the energy for that kind of a job, Rick already knows what I'm going to tell you, and that is that I have cancer and my treatment just drain me of all my energy.
So again I appreciate your thoughts and I thank you for them.

Frank

Very very sorry to hear that Frank.
Your in my prayers.

[kikibalt]

Pug,
Not to worry.
Asi' es, Asi sera,
This is how it is. how it going to be.

Frank

[Expug]

Tanling with the Quarry men I don't worry about, its the Quarry women that scare me!!

Frank

I remember reading somewhere about Jerrys ex, I think her name was Charlie. There was a little drama.
I think it was written by Gil Clancy.
Cant remember the details.
She didnt like her seat at one of Jerrys fights. Jerry was all upset something like that.
There was a fiasco of some sort.

Expug, I remember that story. Her name was Arlene Charles, a former model who they called Charlie. Apparently, when Gil Clancy took over Jerry (which I believe happened after Jerry's second loss to Ali, so he must have taken over the reins for the Randy Neumann fight) he felt Jerry had a very soft psyche and made sure all his cornermen knew to keep things tranquil before a fight. He even spoke to Charlie about keeping things blissful but she had her own narcissistic agenda. It may have been before the 2nd Frazier fight, everything was nice and peaceful in the dressing room with Gil going over final details when the dressing room door blasts open and Charlie screams out, "Did you see what kind of crap seats I have? You've got to do something, etc., etc." Jerry gets agitated, Gil ushers her out of the room, sends flunkies to deal with arrangements and they have to soothe the psyche once again. Man, she must've been something.

Scartissue

Thats it.
Thats the story I heard, thanks Scar.
Its almost impossible to stay focused with that kind of drama goin on.
Even training becomes very difficult.

[Expug]

Frank . . .

I'll never forget that night, and I'll send you a team photo that was taken at the very moment the "riot" took place.

It was in March, 1969, the Southern Pacific AAU Championships had taken place that night, and the winners who would rep L.A. in the National Tournement were up in the ring for a team photo.

Besides myself, Mike Quarry, Nat'l GG heavy champ Walter Moore, Pete Vital, Rudy Acuna (Ruben Navarro's cousin we called "porky"), Florentino Ramirez, Toomy Coulson, Jake Horne, Memo Soto, just some of the names.

The riot started after Mike Quarry's disputed decision victory over a hilybilly named James Dick. The whole Quarry Family was in attendence, as was Dick's big hillbilly family.

You have the Quarry Shanty Irish Army suddenly at battle with James Dick's Hillbilly relatives, and was it a war. The girls were slugging it out, pulling hair, ripping off ear rings. The guys, mostly drunk, were rolling around on the floor throwing punches, biting one another, choking the breath out of each other.

Meanwhile, Johnny Flores thought it was time to try and get the battle under control. "I was going to try bringing peace to the situation, but when I saw "Ma Kettel" (Flores nick-name for Jerry's mother Arawanda) pounding on one of the hillbilly men, I knew it was best to wait for the riot squad to arrive.

Ringsiders such as Kiki, had to jump into the ring, seeking a safe haven from Ma Kettle and the Quarry women. Let's tell the truth Frank, you may have stepped into the ring with some all-time greats in your time, but the thought of tangling with the Quarry women is a bit scary, huh?

Adios . . .

Ricardo

Great story.
Im very familiar with those type of fans.